358 
27 
py 1 



STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 
1870 — 1920 



COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION 
1845 — 1920 




State of Rhode Island 



COMMEMORATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION 

IN RECOGNITION' tf the FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY c/ the CREATION OF THE 

State Board of Education 

AND OF THE 

SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE 

Commissioner of Education 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 
HELD AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE OF EDUCATION 

DECEMBER 3, 1920 

Address by Hon. John H. Finley 
President of the University- of the State of New York and Commissioner of Education 

Greetings and Messages from Civic and Educational Institutions 

Reception 

Complimentary Dinner to the State Board of Education 
by the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction 

Addresses by Commissioners of Education of New England States, and others 



State of Rhode Island 
BOARD OF EDUCATION, 1920 




Hon. George T. Baker Hon R. LmNQBTOM Beeckman Hon. Joseph R. Bourgeois 

Hon. E. Charles Francis Hon. Frank Hill 

Hon. Frederick Rueckert Hon. Frank E. Thompson Hon. Emery J. San Soici 



rC •t »• 



FOREWORD 



Rhode Island public education in its organization and administration is a 
distinctive type of American public education. Its development affords the 
student of public education fruitful experience of rare interest and value. The 
law creating our state system of public schools seventy-five years ago was pre- 
pared by and its administration for a time was entrusted to an eminent educator 
and constructive statesman, Henry Barnard. That law and that service initiated 
a continuity of improvement in educational law and practice and a permanency 
of progressive policy which has characterized Rhode Island public education for 
three quarters of a century. The creation of the State Board of Education fifty 
years ago was an issue of the experience of twenty-five years, in which the need 
of it in our state educational organization was revealed. It marked an increase 
of state responsibility for public education and to meet the growing responsibility 
it enlarged and strengthened the state's educational agencies. For fifty years the 
integrity of public education has been dependent in high degree on the legislative 
and administrative service of the Board of Education. Its members, elected by 
the General Assembly, by whose acts our educational organization has been 
created, developed and is now governed, representing the people of this state and 
charged with official responsibility for the education of the public's children and 
youth, have been conversant with educational needs and in touch with the power 
and means to meet such needs. No body of men is more deserving of grateful 
recognition and honor than the Board of Education, whose members are the 
trustees of our institution of public education with its three thousand teachers 
and one hundred thousand pupils and whose members for half a century have 
cared for the people's educational interests with devotion and wisdom. 

The growing importance of state administration in education has been 
indicated not only by advance in law and practice, but also by growth in our 
public school system. In the past seventy-five years the number of public 
schools has increased from 428 to 2,256, our school year from 80 to 194 days, our 
school population from 25,782 to 121,251, the number of our teachers from 517 
to 2,966 and our school revenues from $55,055 to $4,144,141.29. Fifty years ago 
eighty-five thousand dollars were annually expended for school buildings and in 
recent years the sum annually expended for this purpose had risen above nine 
hundred thousand dollars, while the value of the property of our public schools 
and educational institutions approximates $15,000,000. 

This souvenir is presented in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the 
creation of the State Board of Education and of the seventy-fifth of the appoint- 
ment of the Commissioner of Education. It has been prepared by Dr. Carroll, 
author of "Public Education in Rhode Island" and ardent teacher of the meaning 
and worth of our public education service. It gives an outline of the development 
of our system of public education, its advance in legislation, its improvement in 
practice, its expansion in public responsibility, and of the service of the Board of 
Education, with sketches of the members and of the Commissioners. 

WALTER E. RANGER, 

Commissioner of Education 
3 



STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, 1870-1920 



The creation of a State Board of Education was recommended to the General 
Assembly in 1855 by Commissioner of Public Schools Elisha R. Potter. A bill 
providing for a board substantially similiar in form and in method of selection to 
the existing board was presented to the General Assembly in that year, but no 
action was taken. Commisssioner Thomas W. Bicknell renewed the recommenda- 
l ion in 1870 as a part of his plan for strengthening the organization for the admin- 
istration of public education, and was successful in obtaining favorable action. 
To Mr. Bicknell unquestionably belongs the honor of achievement. The Board, 
with one exception, is the oldest in existence in Rhode Island. 

While the Board at its creation was clothed with substantial supervisory and 
advisory rather than functional authority, the General Assembly from the be- 
ginning accorded respectful attention to its recommendations. In 1871, on the 
recommendation of the State Board of Education, provision was made for the 
re-establishment of the Rhode Island Normal School, which was entrusted to the 
control and management of the Board and the Commissioner of Public Schools 
as a Board of Trustees On similiar recommendation legislation requiring town 
support of schools by appropriations equal at least to state appropriations, requir- 
ing the appointment of a superintendent of schools in each town, and requiring 
that every town should adopt a truancy ordinance, was enacted. 

When the first annual appropriation for the support of free public evening 
schools was made in 1873, the apportionment was entrusted to the Board, as was 
also the apportionment of the appropriation for free public libraries, first made 
in 1875. In a general way the legislation for supporting evening schools and free 
public libraries was of a new type; theretofore the apportionment of appropria- 
tions for public education had been determined by ratios specified in the statutes. 
While there had been in the seventy years from 1800 to 1870 a tendency to 
establish ratios in accord with a policy gradually developed of disbursing public 
school money with emphasis upon the need for support, attempts to solve this 
difficult problem of school administration had followed the line of refining ratios 
and rigid insistence upon an ultimate distribution reaching to the school district 
and the school as the primary units in the school organization. The evening 
school law, particularly, indicated a purpose to seek a solution of the problem of 
apportionment by disregarding the past, and the inclination of the General 
Assembly to strengthen the State Board of Education by entrusting to it the 
exercise of substantial functions. The precedent thus established has been 
followed in laws providing state support for high school education, special aid 
for deficient schools, and support for vocational and industrial education, medical 
inspection, supervision, and traveling libraries. 

Commissioner Bio-knell's vigorous campaign to eliminate illiteracy was con- 
tinued by Commissioner Stockwell, whom the logic and philosophy of his study 
of the problem led to a clear enunciation of the modern doctrine of compulsory 
school attendance. To both Commissioners the State Board of Education 
accorded earnest and effective support, and in the early eighties the Board's 
annual report repeatedly and consistently advocated legislation that should 
unmistakably be a "right-out, square declaration by the state that ignorance 



PAST MEMBERS, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 




1. \V. X. A. ki .1 v 2. D.H.Adams- .?. E. R, \nis I S. W. K. ALLEN 

5. A. Aw HAMHw i,t 0. D. S. Bakeb 7. Z. R. Bliss B L.0 Boubm 

9. D. R. Bbotto 10. Melville Bull 11. R. B. Burchabd 12. T II . ('uhkk 

13. S.H.Cross 14. C. R. Cxjtlbb 15. L. B. DABLHJq 



shall l>e stamped out and every child ( rod has made capable of intelligent citizen- 
ship shall be qualified as such." A series of legislative enactments— establishing 
an annual school census, providing for the appointment of truant officers, grad- 
ually extending required attendance from part to a complete school year and by 
age until Hi years was reached, and regulating the employment of children — 
indicate the progressive movement toward a nearly perfect compulsory attend- 
ance law. The Board's campaign for compulsory attendance and for the solution 
of the problem of administration by abolition of the school district and estab- 
lishing the town as the primary school unit were continued longer in periods of 
t ime than any others, and involved more serious difficulties because both measures 
conflicted with "established interests." 

Recently the Beard has taken a firm stand against and has succeeded in 
eradicating a practice of charging enrollment fees in public evening schools that 
was clearly contrary to the spirit of the law and dangerous as an insidious under- 
mining of the principle that public education should be free of charge and restric- 
tion. At the opening of the World War, when with the discovery of subtle 
propaganda against American institutions and democracy attention was turned 
to disloyal teaching in schools in other sections of the country, the Board pre- 
scribed a pledge of loyalty for teachers, to which all subscribed. An investigation 
conducted by the Commissioner of Public Schools showed no disloyalty among 
Rhode Island teachers. 

While it is true that the General Assembly has not invariably followed the 
recommendations of the Board by enacting legislation immediately upon its first 
request, there has been in most instances a substantial ratification of the policy 
of the Board through legislation within a short period. The long series of laws 
and amendments to laws to which every General Assembly since 1870 has made 
a contribution is convincing evidence of the esteem in which the General Assembly 
has held the Board of Education and of a recognition accorded to it. In 1896 
the General Assembly requested the Board of Education to prepare and report 
"measures by which the state shall still further supplement the revenues and 
efforts of the towns to the end that the system of public schools throughout the 
state shall be uniformly of the highest attainable standard." Following the 
Board's report the General Assembly in 1898 passed "An Act to Secure a More 
Uniform High Standard in the Public Schools of the State," a law that made 
provision for state support for public high schools, and for consolidation of schools, 
and also for a state system of certificating teachers. Upon recommendation of the 
Board the General Assembly of 1920 has appointed a special commission to make 
a study of school finance and administration, to make a report in January, 1921. 
The recommendation followed a careful review of elements contributing to a 
crisis in public education indicating the necessity for legislative action following 
a discriminating investigation of causes and remedies. 

It was entirely consistent with the policy of entrusting to the State Board of 
Education the control of the Normal School as the state's principal agency for the 
preparation of teachers that the examination and certification of teachers should 
ultimately be entrusted to it. Both measures established precedents for educa- 
tional legislation of a type written in liberal and general terms, and leaving details 
of administration to the Board. In this respect they were similar to and consis- 
tent with the evening school law and the free public library law. The statutes 
establishing teachers' pensions and graduate courses in education for teachers at 

6 



Brown University, and making provision for vocational and industrial education 
and for traveling libraries follow these precedents 'The General Assembly in 
these measures has provided ways and means, and entrusted the details of ad- 
ministration to the Board. So also the apportionment of scholarships and the 
appointment of state scholars at the Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island 
College of Pharmacy, and Brown University are entrusted to the Hoard. Inten- 
sion of opportunities for public education to persons who may not avail themselves 
of the service of the public schools has been a function of the Board. Thus the 
education of the blind of all ages is administered by the Board. Under its admin- 
istration the Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf, the State Home and School, 
and the Exeter School were inaugurated, though these institutions are at the 
present time controlled by other agencies. The Board also serves as a State Board 
for Vocational Education, with authority to cooperate for the State of Rhode 
Island with the Federal Board for Vocational Education. 



SKETCHES OF MEMBERS OF BOARD 

WILLIAM NICHOLS ACKLEY, 1886-1890, was born in East Haddham, Conn., 
Oct. 13, 1840. He was graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, 1863, 
and studied divinity at Berkley School, Middletown. lie was rector of 
churches at Danielsonville, and Newton, Conn., and of St. Mark's Church, 
Warren. He was elected to the school committee of Warren shortly after 
moving there. He was Superintendent of Schools in Warren, 1877. 

DWIGHT R. ADAMS, 1880-1804, was born in Lisbon, Conn., Dec. 11, 1823. 
Educated in public and private schools, while employed in farming in summer 
time, he taught school in the winter from 1840 to ISP). He moved to War- 
wick in 1849, and continued teaching in Warwick, Woonsocket, and ( Joventry 
Center until 1890. He served as member of school committee of Warwick 
for 16 years and for 10 years was Superintendent of Warwick public schools. 
He died in August, 1894. 

EDWIN R. ALLEN, 1894-1897, of Hopkinton, was born in Windham, Conn., 
Nov. 26th, 1840, and was educated in the schools of his native town and at 
Eaglcswood, N. J. He enlisted in Company A, Seventh Regiment, R. I. 
Volunteers, August, 1862; and was Corporal, Sergeant Major, Second 
Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and was mustered out as Captain. He was 
Lieutenant Governor, 1894-1897. 

SAMUEL WARD KING ALLEN, 1894-1913, of Last Greenwich, was born in 
North Kingstown, Jan. 2, 1842, and was educated at East Greenwich Aca- 
demy, New York Conference Seminary, and Boston University Law School. 
He was first Sergeant in the regular army during the War of the Rebellion. 
Be was Superintendent of Public Schools in Easl Greenwich for several years; 
Representative in the General Assembly, 1885 -86 and IS'.U lS'.M. and Speaker, 
1894. Be was a lawyer by profession. Be died in 1919. 

ADELARD ARCHAMBAULT, 1903-1904, was born in Canada, April 26, 1864, 
and was educated at the College of the Assumption, ( 'anada. and graduated 
from Laval University, I'. Q\, 1883. He was Representative from Woon- 
socket, 1900-1903. He is a member of the Rhode Island Bar. and has been 
Mayor of Woonsocket. He was Lieutenant Governor, 1903 1904, 

DAVID SHERMAN MAKER, 1882-188o, was horn in Wickford, Jan. 11, 1852. 
Be was graduated from Brown University, 1875, and admitted to the Rhode 
Island Mar, 1877. He was Superintendent of Schools, North Kingstown, 
six years; member of House of Representatives, two years; member of the 
Senate, three years; and United States District Attorney. Be was author of 
"History of the Town^of North Kingstown.'' He died January 27, L906. 



GEORGE T. BAKER, 1894-1920, was born in Providence, June 25, 1842. He 
was educated in the public schools. He served three months in the Civil 
War as Sergeanl in Company B, Tenth Rhode Island Volunteers. He 
represented Barrington in the State Senate, 1890-1894. In 1894, he was 
elected n memberof the State Hoard of Education, serving continuously until 
his death, February, 1920. 

R. LIVINGSTON BEECKMAN, 1915-1920, of Newport, was born in New 
York City, April 15, 1866, and received his education in the public schools 
of Newport. He was Representative from Newport, 1909-1911; Senator, 
1912 1914; and has been Governor since January, 1915. 

ZENAS W. BLISS, 1910 1913, of Cranston, was born in Johnston, Jan. 10, 1867. 
He attended the public schools, and was graduated from University Grammar 
School. 1885, and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as mech- 
anical engineer, 18N9. He was a member of the Cranston town council, 
1901-1909, and president of that body, 1905-1909. He was Representative, 
PM).; 1909. and Deputy Speaker, 1909. He is Chairman of the State Tax 
Commission and a member of the Hoard of Managers of Rhode Island 
State College, lie was Lieutenant Governor, 1910-1913. 

JOSEPH R. BOURGEOIS, 1913-1920, was born in San Antoine, Richelieu, 
Quebec, April 16, 1803. He was educated in St. Hyacinth College, Laval 
University, and the Grand Seminary, Montreal. He was ordained priest at 
St. Hyacinth College. Previously he taught for four years at St. Hyacinth 
College. After ordination he was assigned to Notre Dame, Central Falls, 
for five years. He was afterwards sent to Woonsocket, where he built 
St. Ann's Gymnasium. He has been pastor of St. John's Church, Arctic, 
for the past 22 years. He has travelled extensively and is well-known as a 
lecturer. 

Al'GUSTUS O. BOURN, 1883-1885, was born in Providence, Oct, 1, 1834. 
He was graduated from Brown University, 1854. He served as Senator, 
1876-83, and as Governor, 1883-85. 

D. RUSSELL BROWN, 1892-1895, was born in Bolton, Conn., March 28, 1848. 
He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and later attended 
academies at Manchester and Hartford. He served in the common council 
of Providence, 1881-1885. He was Governor in 1892-1894. 

MELVILLE BULL, 1892-1894, of Middletown, was born in Newport, Sept. 29, 
1 854. He was graduated from Harvard College, 1877. He was Representa- 
tive from Newport, 1883-1885, and Senator, 1885-1892. He was a member 
of the Board of Managers of the Rhode Island State College. He was Lieu- 
tenant Governor, 1892-1894, and Representative in Congress, 1895-1905. 

ROSWELL B. BURCHARD, 1913-1915, of Little Compton, was born in New 
York City, August 20, 1860. He was graduated from Eastman Business 
College; College of City of New York; and Harvard University Law School, 
1903. He was Representative for Little Compton, 1905-1912, and was 
Speaker, 1907-1910. He was Lieutenant Governor, 1913-1915. 

THOMAS HARTWELL CLARKE, 1874-1882, was born in Jamestown, Nov. 
26, 1834. He was educated at Adelphian Academy, Brockton, Mass. He 
was Superintendent of Public Schools, Newport, 1873-1882. He was a 
member of the school committee of Jamestown, 1S84-1S97. 

SAMUEL H. CR< >SS, 1N70-1882, 1885-1897, was born in Westerly, R. I., May, 
1835. He was educated in Westerly, and at Norwich Academy, Vermont. 
He was Town Clerk, Westerly, 1859-1884; Senator from Westerly, 1869-18S2; 
State Auditor and Insurance Commissioner, 1882-1887; Secretary, Board of 
State Charities and Corrections, 1887-1888; Commissioner of Indians, 
1877-1878; Postmaster in Westerly, 1888-1892; Overseer of the Poor in 
Westerly and member of the Westerly school committee for many years. 
He died in New York, July, 1898. 



PAST MEMBERS, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 




1. J.W.Davis 2. L. D. DaVIS 3. A. W. DENNIS I ELISHA DtER 

5. II.H.FAy C.H.Fisheb 7 l r C Garvin 8 G w Gbeene 

9 Wiiium GREGORY 10. J. H. HlQGINS 11. S. I!. II., si v 12. A. C. HOWARD. 

13. Henry Howard 14. F. H. Jackson 15. J. E. Kendrick 



CHARLES RUSSELL CUTLER, 1872-1873, was bom in Ballston, X. Y., Dec. 
10, 1822. In 1839 he removed to Warren, where he engaged as seaman. In 

twelve years had become master of his own ship. He was elected Lieuten- 
ant Governor in L872. He was a member of the town council of Warren 
and its President for many years. 

LUCIUS B. DARLING, 1885-1887, 1889-1891, of Pawtucket, was born in 
Bellingham, Mass., Oct. 3, 1827. He was Representative from the old town 
of North Providence, 1860-1863; served in the town council, and held other 
local offices. He was Lieutenant Governor, 1885-1887. 

JOHN WILLIAM DAVIS, 1887-1888, 1890-1891, of Pawtucket, was born in 
Rehoboth, Mass., March 7, 1826, and was brought up to farming. He was 
a member of the town council of Pawtucket, and President of the same in 
1882, and in 1885. He was State Senator from Pawtucket, 1885-1886. He 
was twice elected Governor, 1887-1888, and 1890-1891. 

LUCIUS D. DAVIS, 1882-1885, was born in Jerusalem, N. Y., Jan. 21, 1825. 
He was a student at Franklin Academy and Wesleyan Seminary. In the 
( raeida Conference, Rev. Mr. Davis occupied several of its most prominent 
pulpits, serving at Hartwick, New Hartford, Madison, Mahlens, Cortland, 
and Utica. In 1859, he removed to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard. 
Thence he came to Warren, and later was in charge of the First Church of 
Newport. He purchased and published the Newport Daily News and later 
established the Newport Journal, a weekly paper. He published also 
"Life in Itinerancy," "Life in the Laity," "Creeds of Churches," "The 
Children in Heaven," "History of Methodism in Cortland." He was twice 
elected a member of the General Assembly from Newport. 

ARTHUR WELLINGTON DENNIS, 1909-1910, of Providence, was born in 
that city, April 11, 1846, and was educated at Providence High School. He 
was member of the Providence school committee for a number of years; 
member of the common council, three years; president of the common council, 
1888-89; and member of the board of aldermen, 1890. He was Repre- 
sentative, 1905-1906; Deputy Speaker, 1905; and Speaker, 1906. He was 
Lieutenant Governor, 1909-1910. 

ELISHA DYER, 1897-1900, was born in Providence, Nov. 28, 1839. He was 
educated in the public schools, University Grammar School, Brown Univer- 
sity, and the University of Giessen, Germany, from which he was graduated 
in August, 1860, receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. As Adjutant 
General, General Dyer corrected and completed the war records of the State, 
and from them compiled the Revised Report of the Adjutant^General of 
1865. In 1877 he was elected State Senator from North Kingstown; in 1878, 
appointed by Governor Van Zandt a member of the State Board of Health 
for five years; in 1880 and 1881, elected a Representative from Providence. 
He was a member of the school committee of Providence, 1888-1897, and a 
member of the board of aldermen, 1891. He was Governor, 1897-1900. 

HENRY H. FAY, 1880-1883, was born in New Paltz, N. Y., in 1835. Graduated 
from University of Rochester in 1856, in the same year he established a 
school for boys at Newport. He was a member of the General Assemblv, 
1875-1880, and was Lieutenant Governor, 1880-1883. 

CHARLES HARRIS FISHER, 1870-1881, was born June 30, 1822, at Killingly, 
Conn. He was educated at Dartmouth, Harvard, and the University of 
New York. He practiced medicine at North Scituate and at one time served 
as Superintendent of Public Schools. He was elected to the State Senate 
in 1869, and again in 1877-1879. He was appointed member of the State 
Board of Health, 1878, and in 1880 was made State Registrar of Vital 
Statistics and Commissioner of Public Health. He died in Buffalo, New 
York, November 12, 1893. 

10 



E. CHARLES FRANCIS, 1909-1920, was born in Utica, N. Y., Sept. 6, 1851. 
He was educated in the public schools of Cambridge, Mass. H<> removed 
to Woonsocket in 1870. He represented Woonsocket in the State Senate, 
1894-1897. Has been a member of the State Board of Education since 1909. 

LUCIUS FAYETTE CLARK GARVIN, 1903-1905, was born in Knoxville, 

Tenn., Nov. 13, 1841. He served during theCivil War asaprivate in the 
51st Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. He was prepared for college at 
Greensboro, N. C, and entered Amherst College, from which be was graduated 
in the class of 18(52. From the Harvard Medical School be was graduated 
in 1867. He represented Cumberland in the General Assembly, 13 years in 
the House of Representatives, three years in the Senate. He was Governor 
1903-1905. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON GREENE, 1870-1874, was born in East Greenwich, 
April 8, 1811. He served as United States Consul at Rome, 1837-1845, and 
for several years was professor of modern languages at Brown University. 
He was a member of the General Assembly, 1865. In 1872, he was made 
professor of American history at Cornell University. He wrote "Historical 
Studies," 1850; "History and Geography of the Middle Ages," 1851; "Bio- 
graphical Studies," 1860; "Historic Review of the American Revolution," 
1865; "The German Element in the War of American Independence," 1876; 
"Short History of Rhode Island," 1877; several biographies of his grand- 
father, General Nathanael Greene; two works on botany and one on French 
grammar. He died in East Greenwich February 2, 1883. 

WILLIAM GREGORY, 1898-1901, of North Kingstown, was born at Astoria, 
N. Y., Aug. 3, 1849. He was Representative from North Kingstown, 1888- 
1892; State Senator, 1894-1898. He was Lieutenant Governor, 1898-1900, 
and Governor, 1900-1901. In 1901, he was re-elected as Governor for the 
term beginning January, 1902, but died before being inaugurated. 

JAMES HENRY HIGGINS, 1907-1909, of Pawtucket, was born Jan. 22, 1876, 
in Saylesville, Lincoln, R. I. He was graduated from the Pawtucket High 
School, 1894; from Brown University, 1898; and from Georgetown Law 
School, 1900. He was Mayor of Pawtucket, 1903-1907, and Governor, 
1907-1909. He is a lawyer. 

FRANK HILL, 1897-1920, of Hopkinton, was born in Ithaca, N. Y., June 28, 
1861, and was graduated from Alfred University, 18S3. He was principal 
of the high school at North Loup, Nebraska, 1881-1882, and principal of 
the high school at Ashaway, 1882-1885. He represented Hopkinton in the 
General Assembly, 1893-1898, and was a member of the committee on educa- 
tion five years, four of which he was the chairman. He was influential in 
bringing about a survey of the public schools in 1896-1897, that resulted in 
the enactment in 1898 of "An Act to Secure a More Uniform High Standard 
in the Public Schools," a measure that contained provision for state support 
for high school education and for the consolidation of schools, and for state 
certification of all public school teachers. He has been a member of the 
State Board of Education since 1897. 

SAMUEL ROBERTSON HONEY, 1887-1888, of Newport, was born in London. 
England, June 14, 1842. He was educated in England. During the Civil 
War he was promoted successively from the rank of Corporal through the 
grades of Sergeant. Sergeant-Major, Second and First Lieutenant, and 
Adjutant to Captain in the regular army of the United States. He served 
with First Battalion, loth I'. S. Infantry, in the Army of the Cumberland 
from Jan. 13, 1863, to Sept. 1, 1864, taking part in the engagements at 
Hoover's Gap. Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Missionary 
Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Graysville, Ga., Dalton, Etesaca, New Hope Church, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Peach 'Tree ( 'reek, [Jtoy < 'reek anil JonesborO. in which 
last engagement he was severely wounded, Sept. 1, 1864. He was brevetted 

11 



Captain for gallantry in action at Jonesboro. He served as acting Judge 
Advocate, Third Military District (staffs of Generals Pope and Meade 
successively) in L867 and L868 at Atlanta, Ga. He resigned from the army 
in 1870. He was admitted to the bar in Montgomery, Ala., and while a 
resident of Rhode Island was a lawyer. 

ALBERT C. HOWARD. 1877-1880, was born in Cranston, February 29, 1828. 
lie was educated at Smithfield Seminary. At the outbreak of the Civil 
War, he enlisted as a private, and was promoted to the office <>f First 
Lieutenant, and then Captain. 11th Regiment. R. I. Volunteers. He was 
a member of the General Assembly, 1873-1874, and Lieutenant Governor, 
1877-1880. He died July 3, 1910. 

HENRY HOWARD, 1873-1875, was born in Cranston, R. I., April 2, 182G. He 
was ei Incited at the University Grammar School. He represented Coventry 
in the General Assembly, 1857-1858. Governor Howard was a vigorous 
writer, his contributions of prose and poetry and letters of travel being 
published in the Providence Journal and other newspapers. He was Governor 
of Rhode Island, 1873-1875. 

FREDERICK H. JACKSON, 1905-1908, of Providence, was born in Kirkland, 
X. Y., October 9, 1847. He was educated at Jackson Military Institute, 
Danburv, Conn., and Cornell University, 1873. He was Lieutenant Gover- 
nor, 1905-1908 

JOHN E. KENDRICK, 1891-1914, was born in Providence, June 17, 1854. He 
was graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., 1876. He 
was a member of the Providence common council, 1890-1912, and of the 
Providence school committee, 1887-1910. He was a member of the State 
Board of Education from 1891 until he died in 1914. 

CHARLES DEAN KIMBALL, 1900-1903, of Providence, was born in that 
city, Sept. 13, 1859, and was educated in the public schools. He represented 
Providence in the General Assemblv, 1S94-1900, and was Lieutenant 
Governor from May, 1900, to Jan., 1902, and Governor, 1902-1903. 

HERBERT W. LADD, 1889-1890, 1891-1892, of Providence, was born in 
New Bedford, Oct. 15, 1843, and was educated in the public schools of that 
city. His news letters from various points in the south and west during 
the progress of the Civil War were of exceptional merit and interest. He 
was twice elected Governor, 1889-1890 and 1891-1892. 

ENOS LAPHAM, 1888-1889, of Warwick, was born in Burrillville, Sept, 13, 
1821. He was educated in the public schools, and at Bushee's Seminary, 
Smithfield. He served as a member of the town council of Warwick. He 
was Senator from Warwick, 1886-1887, and Lieutenant Governor, 1888- 
1889. 

DANIEL LEACH, 1870-1889, was born in Bridgewater, Mass., June 6, 1806. 
He was graduated from Brown University, 1830; studied divinity for two 
years at Andover, Mass., and was ordained, 1832. In 1837, he became 
principal of the Classical School of Roxbury, and later he was Agent of the 
Massachusetts State Board of Education. He was Superintendent of 
Public Schools in Providence, 1855-1889. He published several series of 
text-books for use in the public schools. He died in Providence. 

CHARLES WARREN LIPPITT, 1895-1897, was born in Providence, Oct. 8, 
1846. He was prepared for college at the University Grammar School, and 
was graduated from Brown University, 1865. He was Governor, 1895-1897. 

HENRY LIPPITT, 1875-1877, was born in Providence, Oct, 9, 181S. He was 
educated at Kingston Academy. He was twice elected governor, 1875 and 
1876. Governor Lippittdied in Providence in 1891. 

12 



PAST MEMBERS, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 




1. C.D.Kimball 2. H. W. Ladd 3. Daniei Leach ». C. \V. T.ippitt 

• r ). Henry I.iimmtt 6. A . II . In i i.ki ii.i.u 7. G. A. Littlepield 8 G I Locki 

9. J.H.Manchester 10. F. E. McFee 11. Seth Padelpord 12. E. K. Parkeh 

13. A. J. Pothieb 14. O.J EIathbun 15 G I Sheplei 



ALFRED HENRY LITTLEFIELD, 1880-1883, was born inScituate, April 2, 
L829. He was a member of the town council of Lincoln, 1873-1877; repre- 
sented Lincoln in the House of Representatives, 1876-1877, and in the Senate, 
1878-1879. He was ( iovernor, 1SS0 INN3. In his annual message to the 
< reneral Assembly in 1882 he recommended the establishment of a state indus- 
trial school for dependent and unfortunate children, and also urged that the 
public school system he modified so as to prepare the children of the people 
for participation in the development of the manufacturing and industrial 
interests of the state. He died in Lincoln, Dec. 21, 1893. 

DANIEL G. LITTLEFIELD, 1889-1890, ofLincoln, was born in North Kings- 
town, Nov. 23, 1822. He represented Northampton for two years in the 
House of Representatives of Massachusetts. He was elected Lieutenant 
Governor, 1889. 

GEORGE ABNER LITTLEFIELD, 1885-1889, was born in Chelsea, Mass., 
Feb. 11, 1851. He was graduated from Kimball Union Academy, and from 
Harvard University, 1878. He taught in Weymouth, Danvers and Maiden, 
being the first Superintendent of Schools in Maiden. He served as Superin- 
tendent in Lawrence, as a supervisor in Boston, and in Newport as Superin- 
tendent of Schools, 1882-1889. He was Principal of the Rhode Island Nor- 
mal School, 1889-1892. He was Representative in the General Assembly 
from Providence, 1895-1897, and 1900-1901. As an orator he is remembered 
for his addresses on Abraham Lincoln and Daniel Webster, which be delivered 
many times in New England. Mr. Littlefield died suddenly in Providence 
on Aug. 28, 1906. 

GEORGE LYMAN LOCKE, 1871-1886, was born in Boston, Mass., Aug. 28, 
1835. He was graduated from Boston Latin School and from Harvard, 1859. 
He was assistant minister of Grace Church, Boston, and Trinity Church, 
Boston, and for many years he was rector of Saint Michael's Episcopal 
Church, Bristol. He served the town of Bristol as member of the school 
committee for many years. He died in Bristol in 1919. 

JOHN HOWARD MANCHESTER, 1890-1894, was born in Bristol, March 24, 
1842. For 20 years he served the town of Bristol as member of the school 
committee, and for several years as member of the town council. He was 
collector of the port of Bristol and Warren, 1884-1888. 

FRANK EMERSON McFEE, 1887-1890, was born in Haverhill, Mass., Nov. 
17, 1851. He was graduated from Haverhill High School and Brown 
University, 1875. For four years he was principal of the Washington 
Academy, Wickford. In 1879 he became principal of Bernon Grammar 
School, Woonsocket; in 1884 was appointed sub-master in the Woonsocket 
High School; in 1886 was elected Superintendent of Schools, Woonsocket. In 
this office he continued until his death, Feb. 4, 1915. 

SETH PADELFORD, 1870-1873, was born in Taunton, Mass., Oct. 3, 1807. 
He was a member of the Providence city council, 1837-1841, and 1851-1852; 
of the Providence school committee, 1837-1841, 1851-1853, and 1864-1873; 
Representative in the General Assembly from Providence, 1852-1853; Lieu- 
tenant Governor, 1863-1865; and Governor, 1869-1873. He died Aug. 26, 
1878, in Providence. 

EZRA KNIGHT PARKER, 1874-1880, was born in Scituate, Dec. 29, 1832. 
He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1857. He studied law at 
Portsmouth, Va. He enlisted in the LTnion Army from Rhode Island, 
Sept. 4, 1861, as private in Battery D, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery; 
Sept. 7, 1861, was commissioned Second Lieutenant; April 8, 1864, was com- 
missioned First Lieutenant, Battery E, of the same regiment, and com- 
manded the battery from Sept ember, 1864, until June, 1865. He was 
Assistant Adjutant General of the Artillery Brigade, First Division, First 

14 



Army Corps, Army of Potomac; and was mustered out June 14, 1864. In 
Coventry he lias been moderator, chairman of the school committee, president 
of the town council, and town solicitor. He was Representative in the 
General Assembly from Coventry, 1898-1900; and Senator, 1900-1902. 
He was prominent in the Grand Army of the Republic, and was Commander- 
in-Chief for Rhode Island. He died in 1919. 

ARAM J. POTHIER, 1897-1898, 1907-1915, of Woonsocket, was born in 
Quebec, in 1854. He was educated at Nicolet College. Be was a member 

of the school committee, Woonsocket, 1885-1889; member of the House 
of Representatives, 1887-1888; Commissioner from Rhode Island to the 
International Exposition at Paris, 1889, and to the Paris Exposition, 1900; 
Mayor of Woonsocket, 1894-1895; Lieutenant Governor, 1S'.)7 lN'.IN; 
and Governor, 1909-1915. He was an elected member of State Board of 
Education, 1907-1909. 

OSCAR JENCKES RATHBUN, 1883-1885, was born in Woonsocket, March 12, 
1832. He was educated at Worcester High School and Clinton Liberal 
Institute, Clinton, New York. He served for two years as Representative 
from Woonsocket in the General Assembly. He was Lieutenant Governor, 
1883-1885. He died Feb. 1, 1892. 

FREDERICK RUECKERT, 1914-1920, was born in Providence, November 21, 

1855. He was educated in the public schools and at Brown University, 
from which he was graduated, 1877. He was admitted to the Rhode Island 
Bar, 1880, and entered upon the practice of his profession. He represented 
Providence in the General Assembly, 1891-1892; and was a member of the 
Providence school committee, 1894—1912; and its president, 1903-1912. 
He was clerk of the District Court of the Sixth Judicial District, 1895-1905, 
and was elected Justice of this court, 1905, a position that he still holds. He 
has been a member of the State Board of Education since 1914, and is the 
chairman. As Justice of the juvenile section of the Sixth District Court, 
his service has attracted attention beyond the borders of Rhode Island. 
Rhode Island State College granted him the honorary degree of LL. D., 
June 14, 1920. 

EMERY J. SAN SOUCI, 1915-1920, of Providence, was born in Saco, Maine, 
July 24, 1857, receiving his education in the common schools. He was 
member of the common council of the city of Providence, 1901-1906. He 
has been Lieutenant Governor since 1915. 

GEORGE L. SHEPLEY, 1901-1903, was born in Dover, N. H., October 11, 
1854. He was educated in the public schools of Providence. He was 
Lieutenant-Governor, 1901-1903. 

HENRY TILLINGHAST SISSON, 1875-1877, was born in Little Compton. At 
the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the First Regiment, R. I.Vol- 
teers, and was appointed paymaster, ranking as Lieutenant. May 20, IStil . 
he was commissioned Captain, First R. I. Artillery; Feb. 5, 1862, Major of 
the Third R. I. Heavy Artillery; resigned, Aug. 6, 1862. Nov. 5, 1862, he 
became Colonel of the Fifth Regiment, R. I. Heavy Artillery. April 13, 
1863, the Fifth R. I. Heavy Artillery raised the siege at Fort Washington, 
N.C.,and relieved the 27th and 45th Regiments, Massachusetts Volunteers 
who had been surrounded by an overwhelming Confederate force under 
General Magruder. A relief party of nearly 5,000 Union soldiers failed to 
break the Confederate line, in an at tempi to relieve Fori Washington 
Colonel Sisson asked permission to try to run the Confederate batteries on 
the Tar River and carry aid by water. His project was at first condemned 
as foolhardy, but at length he was given permission, if he could find volunteers. 
His regiment volunteered unanimously. The passage on the river was made 
in a small steamboat covered with bales of hay for armor. The steamboat 
carried the 388 members of the Fifth R. 1. Heavy Artillery, and ample 

15 



supplies of food and amunition to relieve the garrison. In commemoration 
of this achievement the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 
and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have erected a bronze monument 
to Colonel Henry Tillinghast Sisson at Little Compton. He served as 
Lieutenant Governor, 1875-1876. 

AUGUSTUS D. SMALL, 1871-1873, was horn March 28, 1844, in Bangor, Me. 
He was graduated from ( 'olhy College, 1865. He was principal of Coburn In- 
stitute, Waterville, in the last two terms of his senior year. After gradu- 
ation he was employed for one year, 1865-1866, as assistant in the Literary 
Institution, at Suffield, Conn. He was principal of the Rockland, Me., High 
School, 1867 to 1871 ; principal of the High School at Newport, 1871; Super- 
intendent of Schools, Newport, 1871-1873; member of the State Board of 
Education, 1871-1873; Superintendent of Schools of Salem, Mass., 1873; 
submaster in the Lawrence Grammar School of South Boston, Mass., 1882- 
1901; headmaster, South Boston High School, 1901-1914, and in 1914 
became principal of the De Meritte School. He makes his home in Allston, 
Mass. 

PERCY DINSMORE SMITH, 1890-1894, of Glocester, was born in that town, 
Sept. 15, 1863. Was educated at Nichols Academy, and graduated from 
Brown University, 1889. He was a member of the House of Representatives, 
1889-1894; town moderator, member of the school committee, and Superin- 
tendent of Schools of Glocester. 

AMOS FLETCHER SPALDING, 1870-1871, was born in Boston, Mass., 
Jan. 12, 1821. He was graduated from Boston High School, the Baptist 
Academy at Worcester and Brown University, 1847. He studied at Newton 
Theological Seminary, and was pastor of churches in Montreal, Hanover, 
Cambridge, Calais, Me., Warren, R. I., Norwich, Conn, and Needham, 
Mass. He died in November, 1877. 

HENRY A. STEARNS, 1891-1892, of Lincoln, was born in Billerica, Mass., 
Oct. 23, 1825. When 21 years of age he went to Cincinnati, O., and estab- 
lished the first factory for the manufacture of cotton wadding west of the 
Alleghanies. In 1850 he went to California, taking with him machinery for 
a steam laundry. He afterwards ran the first regular steam ferry from San 
Francisco to Oakland. Mr. Stearns devised several mechanical contriv- 
ances of value, and had marked inventive ability. He held numerous town 
offices in Lincoln and represented the town in the General Assembly as a 
Representative in 1878-81, and as Senator in 1881-84, and 1887-88. He 
was Lieutenant Governor, 1891-1892. 

PARDON W. STEVENS, 1870-1872, was born Sept. 15, 1815, at Newport, 
He served as a member of the Newport common council, 1854, and as 
alderman, 1857. He represented Newport in the General Assemblv, 1859- 
1868; became Senator, 1863-1868; Lieutenant Governor, 1868-1872; and an 
inspector of customs for the port of Newport, 1872-1875. He died in New- 
port April 19, 1875. 

ROYAL C. TAFT, 1888-1889, of Providence, was born in Northbridge, Mass., 
Feb. 14, 1823. He was educated at Worcester Academy, Worcester, Mass. 
He was a Representative from Providence, 1880-1884, and he was a member 
of the Providence city council, 1855-1856. He was Governor of Rhode 
Island, 1888-1889. 

FRANK EDGAR THOMPSON, 1890-1920, was born in Somersworth, N. H., 
and received his early education in the schools of that town and of Dover. 
He fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy- and was graduated from 
Dartmouth College, 1871, receiving the degree of Master of Arts three years 
later. After leaving college, he was instructor at Phillips Andover Academy 
for two years. This position was resigned to accept the submastership of 

16 



PAST MEMBERS, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 




H. T. 


SlSSON 


2. 


A. 


D 


Small 


3. 


P. 


D. 


Smith 


4. 


H. A. Sir IBNB 


P. W 


Stevens 


6. 


R 


C. 


Taft 


7. 


G 


H 


Utter 


8. 


C. C. Vah Zandt 


W. T 


C. Wardwell 


10. 


R. 


C. 


W LTROU8 


11. 


G. 


P. 


Wetmore 


12 


C. J. White 



No pictures of Enos Lapham, Daniel G. Littlefield, Amos F. Spalding and Frederick W. Tilton, 

members of the Board of Education, and of Henry Rousmaniere, Commissioner of Public Scl Is, 

1861-1863, could be found. Otherwise the scries is complete for 75 years of the Commissioners and 

50 years of the Board. — Carroll. 



tlic Rogers High School in Newport. R. I., and in 1890 the position of Head- 
master, which position he now holds. Since 1890, Mr. Thompson lias been 
a member of the State Board of Education ; in connection with his associates 
In' has been instrumental in bringing aboul many changes for the improve- 
ment of education in the State. In 1919 in recognition of long service in the 
cause of education the honorary degree of Doctor of Education was conferred 
upon him by the Rhode Island State College. 

FREDERICK \V. TILTON, 1870-1872, was born in Cambridge, Mass., L839. 
He was educated in Cambridge schools, and was graduated from Harvard, 
L862. Hi' studied at Gottingen University, Germany, 1862-1863; taught in 
Worcester, Mass., 1863-66; was Superintendent of Schools, Newport, 
1867-71; was principal of Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., 1871-72; was 
headmaster of Rogers High School, Newport, 1873-90, and lived in Europe 
four years, 1890-94. 

GEORGE HERBERT UTTER, 1904-1907, of Westerly, was horn July 24, 
1854, in Plainfield, N. J., coming to Westerly in 1861. He was graduated 
from Amherst ( lollege, 1877. He was a member of the House of Representa- 
tives, 1885-89, being Speaker in the latter vear. He was Senator from 
Westerly, 1889-1891; Secretary of State, 1891-1894, Lieutenant Governor, 
1904, and Governor, 1905-1907. He was a member of Congress, 1911-1912, 
dying during the campaign of 1912. He was a printer, and publisher of 
the Westerly Sun. 

CHARLES COLLINS VAN ZANDT, 1873-1875, 1877-1880, was born in New- 
port, Aug. 10, 1830. He was educated in the schools of Newport, and was 
graduated from Trinity College. Hartford, 1851. He was admitted to the 
Rhode Island Bar in 1853. He was city solicitor of Newport in 1855; Clerk 
of the House of Representatives, 1855-1857; Representative from Newport 
in the General Assembly at various times between 1857 and 1873, being 
Speaker of the House, 1858-1859, 1866-1869, 1871-1873; represented New- 
port in the State Senate, 1873-1874; was chairman of the committee on 
judiciary. He was Lieutenant Governor, 1873-1875, and Governor, 1877- 
1880. He was a gifted speaker. He published, "Newport Ballads," a 
collection of poetry relating to quaint characters of former days of Newport. 
He died June 4, 1894. 

WILLIAM THOMAS CHURCH WARDWELL, 1890-1891, of Bristol, was 
born in that town, Sept. 20, 1835, and was educated in the public schools. 
He served as a member of the town council of Bristol, and represented that 
town in both branches of the General Assembly. He was Lieutenant 
Governor of Rhode Island, 1890-1891. 

RALPH ('. WATROUS, 1908-1909, of Warwick, was horn in Mystic, Conn., 
July 19, 1866, and was educated in the public schools of his native town and 
at Hopkinton, R. I. He was a member of the town council of Warwick, 
1906-1907. He was Lieutenant Governor, 190S-1909. 

GEORGE PEABODY WETMORE, 1885-1887, of Newport, was horn in Lon- 
don, England, Aug. 2, 1846. He was graduated from Yale College, 1867, 
and received the degree of A. M., 1871; and the degree of LL. B. at Col- 
umbia College, 1869. He served as ( iovernor, 1885-1887. Hewaselected 
to the United States Senate, representing Rhode Island, 1895-1913. 

CHARLES J. WHITE, 1881-1887, 1894-1906, was born in Boston, Mass., 
May 22, 1836, and graduated from Williston Seminary and Tufts College, 
1S5S. In the same year he became principal of Milford High School. He 
was ordained to the Christian ministry in the I niversalist Church, and served 
at East Boston and Woonsocket. Previous to 1886 he was Superintendent 
of Public Schools in Woonsocket. He died in 1906. 



18 



COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1845-1920 



From one point of view the history of the Commissioner of Public Schools is 
substantially the story of the establishment and development of a state system 
of public school administration. Although public school education began in 
Rhode Island in 1640, and the General Assembly, as early as 1800, made provision 
for state support of town public schools, there was no suggestion in the law of a 
state system of schools until, in 1836, the General Assembly requested town clerks 
to report, with statistics of defective children, the number of children attending 
public schools and the amount of school money received from the ( reneral Treas- 
urer. A general law enacted in 1838 required more detailed and more elaborate 
reports, and directed the Secretary of State to furnish blanks. 

The first General Assembly elected under the Constitution of 1842-1843, upon 
the motion of Hon. Wilkins Updike, directed the Governor to appoint an agent, 
whose duty it should be to make a survey of schools and report to the General 
Assembly. Governor James Fenner appointed Henry Barnard, late secretary of 
the school commissioners of Connecticut, to be State Agent, on December 6, 1843. 
Substantially the work of the survey followed two principal lines: An appraisal 
of the public schools, and an awakening of interest among the people generally in 
the promotion of measures for improvement. Both were successful. An educa- 
tional revival was conducted. Measures for improvement were embodied in a 
general school law, 1845, outlining a system of schools and a plan for adminis- 
tration fundamentally similar to that still maintained in Rhode Island. 

The new school law of 1845 provided for the appointment of a Commissioner of 
Public Schools, whose duties required him to be an educational expert or adviser 
to the General Assembly, a publicity agent for maintaining public interest, an 
efficiency agent for projects for improvement of schools, an amiable counsellor 
of school officers, the dispenser of state school money, a state superintendent of 
schools, an agent for the training of teachers and the improvement of teachers in 
service, a school statistician, and a judicial officer conducting a legal tribunal for 
the settlement of controversies arising in connection with school administration. 
Henry Barnard was appointed first Commissioner of Public Schools, and served 
four years, 1845-1849. The five year period, 1S44-1849, comprising the service 
of Henry Barnard as Agent and as Commissioner, was marked by unprecedented 
progress in the rehabilitation of the physical school plant and in the building of 
new schoolhouses of approved types, by a splendid awakening of popular interesl 
in public education, and by the conservation of gains made by statutary enact- 
ments. On the substantial foundation laid by Henry Barnard, his successors in 
office continued to build, evolving gradually the Rhode Island system of schools. 

Elisah R. Potter, who had been Henry Barnard's assistant and associate, was 
his successor, 1849-1855. An able and experienced lawyer and public officer, 
Commissioner Potter, in rewriting the Barnard Law in 1851, recast it into legal 
language, the change tending to make the legislation more effective. Commis- 
sioner Potter ably carried forward the general policies of Commissioner Barnard. 
Through his endeavor, after two unsuccessful ventures in private normal schools, 
a state-supported normal school was established in 1854. Be repressed agitation 
that might have precipitated a religious conflict in public education and that 

19 



might have proved as disastrous in Rhode Island as elsewhere. He was keenly 
appreciative of the significance of the Commissioner's judicial authority, and did 
much as Commissioner, through exercise of this power, to win prestige and to 
establish dignity for his office. Subsequently, as Associate Justice of the Supreme 
Court, he wrote the opinion of the Court in Cottrell's Appeal, a decision that laid 
down the rule for the interpretation of the jurisdiction of the Commissioner. 
Realizing the importance of a close affiliation with the General Assembly, as the 
repository of power through law to advance public education, he recommended 
in 1855 the establishment of a state board of education. He advocated free 
schools or the abolition of tuition, and also free textbooks. During his admin- 
istration the state appropriation was increased from $25,000, first to $35,000, and 
thereafter to $50,000. 

Rev. Robert Allyn of East Greenwich succeeded Commissioner Potter, 1855- 
1858. His most significant service was an investigation of school enrollment, 
attendance and finance, and a detailed statistical report thereon to the General 
Assembly. He also sustained the judicial authority, and recommended free 
schools and free textbooks. 

John Kingsbury was Commissioner, 1858-1859. In his year of service he 
visited every schoolhouse in the state and made a report of conditions as he found 
them, affording material for a comparison with the report made by Henry Barnard 
fifteen years earlier. Joshua B. Chapin, 1859-1861, and 1863-1869, and Henry 
Rousmaniere, 1861-1863, were the next Commissioners. In the administration of 
Commissioner Rousmaniere the Civil War overshadowed other interests. The 
abolition of tuition during Dr. Chapin's administration made the public schools 
free schools after 1868. The fifteen year period 1854-1869 had been less ag- 
gressive than the preceding decade, and the necessities of the hour demanded 
a man of action. 

Thomas W. Bicknell was appointed Commissioner in 1869. He came to the 
office in the prime of exuberant manhood, and with the determination to re- 
establish for the Commissioner of Public Schools a prestige that had not been 
maintained by his immediate predecessors. One of his first recommendations 
was the appointment of a State Board of Education, and the General Assembly 
voted favorably. With Commissioner Bicknell as a vigorous, enthusiastic and 
able counsellor, the State Board of Education must share credit for the successful 
inauguration of its recommendation on several important measures, among them 
the re-establishment of Rhode Island Normal School, mandatory supervision, 
town appropriations to equal state appropriations, truancy legislation, support 
for evening schools and support for free public libraries. Commissioner Bicknell 
began an active campaign for the eradication of illiteracy. He resigned in 1875. 

Thomas B. Stockwell succeeded Commissioner Bicknell, 1875-1905, serving 
thirty years, a period equal to the combined terms of all his predecessors. Con- 
tinuing the campaign against illiteracy, Commissioner Stockwell soon realized 
that any measure short of compulsory attendance must fail of solving the problem 
of minor illiteracy. He was supported earnestly by the State Board of Education. 
By gradual change in the statutes a satisfactory attendance law was achieved. 
In 1884 the annual appropriation for teachers was made $120,000. In 1893 free 
textbooks were ordered by the General Assembly. In consequence of a special 
report by the State Hoard of Education in 1 898 ; the Ceneral Assembly made 
provision for state support for high school education, for consolidation of schools, 
and for state certification of teachers. To this period also belongs the beginnings 

20 



COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS 




Hkvky Barnard Ki.ism R. Potter ROBEBT Ai.i.vn 

184.5-1849 1849-1854 1S54-1858 

John Kingsbi hv Joshua B. Cumin 

1858-1859 1859-1861, 18C3-1869 

Thomas W. Bicknell Thomas B. Stockwell W ai.i'kk E. Ranges 

1869-1875 1875-1905 1905-1920 



of Rhode Island State College, Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf, Rhode Island 
School of Design and the State Home and School. 

When Commissioner Stockwell resigned in 1905, the State Board of Education 
elected as his successor Walter E. Ranger, who at the time was State Superin- 
tendent in Vermont. The fifteen years since 1905 have witnessed a remarkable 
extension and improvement of public education. Commissioner Ranger in his 
first year of service undertook a general survey of schools, and in his second report 
recommended pensions for teachers, a state system of traveling libraries, a state 
home and school for the feeble minded, state certification of superintendents, 
extension of high school education, industrial and trade education, improved 
school sanitation, reasonable tenure for teachers, a summer school for teachers. 
All of these recommendations have been carried into effect, and, besides these, 
provision has been made for a graduate department of education at Brown 
University, free state scholarships at Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, man- 
datory support of high school education, stricter and more perfect compulsory 
attendance laws, establishment and maintenance of uniform high standards for 
all schools, the teacher's minimum salary law, extension of and larger support 
for trained supervision, special aid for deficient schools, Americanization and the 
elimination of illiteracy, medical inspection, sight and hearing test, dental clinics, 
and physical training. Besides making his regular annual reports to the State 
Board of Education, the Commissioner made a special report on vocational 
education, and as a member of a special commission wrote a report on the State 
College and the obligation of the state to support it. Through his effort the 
General Assembly was persuaded to accept the provisions of the Federal Voca- 
tional Education Act, and to set up state machinery and provide state appro- 
priation for vocational education and the training of vocational teachers. 

The General Assembly of 1920 has changed the title of this chief administrative 
educational officer to Commissioner of Education. 



SKETCHES OF THE COMMISSIONERS 

HENRY BARNARD, 1843-1849, was born at Hartford, Conn., Jan. 24, 1811. 
He was prepared for college in Monson, Mass., and Hopkins Grammar 
School, Hartford, and graduated from Yale, 1830. He studied law and 
was admitted to the bar in Connecticut, 1835. He went abroad to travel 
and study. He was a member of the Connecticut Legislature, 1837-1840. 
He advocated various reforms, including improvement of the common 
schools. He secured the passage of legislation requiring the Comptroller to 
obtain from school visitors official reports respecting public schools; and 
acts to provide for the better supervision of common schools, for school- 
houses of better construction, for the normal academy and high schools, etc. 
He was Secretary of the Board of School Commissioners in Connecticut, 
1838-1842. He was called to Rhode Island to undertake the survey of the 
public schools authorized by the General Assembly in 1843. In his report 
to the General Assembly he advocated various improvements in the public 
schools, including the codification of school laws of the state. An act drawn 
by him and passed by the General Assembly in 1845 laid the foundation for 
the present system of administering the public schools of Rhode Island. He 
was elected Commissioner of Public Schools under the act of 1845. He 
served until 1849, when he retired because of ill health. He was Super- 
intendent of the Connecticut State Schools, 1850-1854, and President of the 

22 



State University of Wisconsin, 1857-1859. lie was President of St. John's 
College, 1865-1867, and in 1867 was appointed first United States Commis- 
sioner of Education, holding that office until 1870. While in Rhode Island 
he published the School Journal. In Connecticut he founded the Common 
School Journal. 1855 he commenced the publication of the American 
Journal of Education, and a monumental encyclopedia of education. 1886 
he published a collected edition of his works entitled "The American Library 
of Schools and Educators." It comprised 52 volumes and over 800 original 
articles. He died July 6, 1900. 
ELISHA REYNOLDS POTTER, 1849-1854, educator, lawyer, jurist, member 
of the General Assembly, Representative in Congress, author, was born in 
South Kingstown. June 20, 1811, son of Elisha Reynolds Potter, lawyer, 
member of the General Assembly, and Congressman. The elder Potter 
was born in South Kingstown, Nov. 5, 1764. In 1793 he was elected to the 
General Assembly, and was continuously re-elected until his death, Sep- 
tember 26, 1835, except when serving Rhode Island as a member of Con- 
gress, 1796-1798, 1809-1815. The younger Potter was also a member of 
the General Assembly, was Adjutant General, 1835-1836, and was Repre- 
sentative in Congress 1843-1845. He was assistant to Henry Barnard as 
Commissioner of Public Schools, and succeeded Mr. Barnard, serving from 
1849 to 1854. He was subsequently elected to be a Justice of the Rhode 
Island Supreme Court in 1868, and served until his death, Aprd 10, 1882. 
He published, besides his School Reports and the "Rhode Island School- 
master," "Early History of Narragansett," " Paper Money in Rhode Island, 
and various papers on "Suffrage." 
ROBERT ALLYN, 1854-1858, third Commissioner of Public Schools, was a 
native of Connecticut and was graduated from Wesleyan University, Middle- 
town, 1841. Although ordained minister, he was engaged in the profession 
of education almost continuously from 1841 to June, 1892. First he taught 
at Wesleyan University. He was principal of the Wilbraham Academy, 
Mass 1845-1848, East Greenwich Academy 1848-1854. He was Com- 
missioner of Public Schools 1854-1858; Professor of languages at Athens 
University; President of Cincinnati Weslevan Female College; President of 
McKendree College, 1863-1874, and President of the Southern Illinois 
University, 1874-1892. He died in Carbondale, Illinois, December 29, 
1893. 
JOHN KINGSBURY, 1858-1859, was born at South Coventry, Conn., May 26, 
1801.- He was graduated from Brown University, 1826, and soon after 
began to teach in a private school. 1828 he became principal of the Young 
Ladies' High School, continuing for 30 years. He was appointed Commis- 
sioner of Public Schools, 1858, serving one year. In 1844 he became a 
Trustee of Brown University, and from 1853 until he died, 1874, he was a 
Fellow of the University and Secretary of the corporation. 
JOSHUA BICKNELL CHAPIN, 1859-1861, 1863-1869, was born at Hillsboro, 
N. H., August 19, 1814. He completed a four-year course at Brown Uni- 
versity in 1835, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts with the class of 
1838, 'the same year that ho was graduated, M. D., from Berkshire Medical 
Institution. He was a physician, druggist and photographer in Providence. 
He served as Commissioner of Public Schools, 1859-1861, and 1863 1869 
He was editor of the Rhode Island Schoolmaster, and a member of the 
Phi Beta Kappa. He died June 7, 1881. 
HENRY ROUSMANIERE, 1861-1863, was born at Newport, 1809, and edu- 
cated in his native town. In 1S32, with his brother, he purchased the 
Pawtucket Chronicle and Rhode Island and Massachusetts Register, and 
continued to publish the paper until 1839. In 1861 he was appointed Com- 
missioner of Public Schools. He died in Providence, May 19, lSbS. V\ lule 
Commissioner and afterward he was a prominent speaker at teachers insti- 
tutes. His address at the dedication of a Newport school has been pre- 
preserved in pamphlet form. 

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THOMAS WILLIAMS BICKNELL, 1869-1875, was born at Barrington, Sept. 
6, 1834. He was graduated from Thetford Academy, 1852, and from Brown 
University, 1860. During the senior year at Brown he was Representative 
in the General Assembly, He became a teacher. In 1869 he was appointed 
Commissioner of Public Schools. He served six years, during which time, 
with the cooperation of the State Board of Education, which was created on 
his recommendation to the General Assembly, he was influential in securing 
many important advances of public education, among them the reestablish- 
ment of Rhode Island Normal School. He resigned in LS75 to become 
editor of the New England Journal of Education. In 1877 he established 
the Primary Teacher, in 1880 the magazine Education. He has been promi- 
nently associated with many of the most influential educational associations 
of the United States. His writing in the held of history have been voluminous 
and significant. Among them is a five volume "History of Rhode Island." 
Though 86 years of age, he is still vigorous and forceful, and an active 
participant in many movements for progress. 

THOMAS BLANCHARD STOCKWELL, 1875-190.5, was born in Worcester, 
July 6, 1839. He prepared for college at Chicopee High School, and was 
graduated from Brown University, 1862. After teaching in New Haven and 
Holyoke. he came to Providence as teacher in the Providence High School, 
1864-1875. In 1875 he was appointed Commissioner of Public Schools, 
continuing in office until 1905, a period longer than the combined service of 
his predecessors in office. From 1867-1875 he was associate editor and 
manager of the Rhode Island Schoolmaster. Besides the annual reports, 
1875-1905, he published a "History of Public Education in the State of 
Rhode Island, 1639-1876." He was a member of the Barnard Club and its 
second President; and also a member of the American Institute of Instruc- 
tion and National Education Association. He died February 9, 1906, 
within a year after his resignation as Commissioner. In commemoration of 
his services the teachers of Rhode Island have erected a bronze tablet in the 
State House. 

WALTER EUGENE RANGER, 1905-1920, was born at Wilton, Maine, No- 
vember 22, 1855. He was graduated from Bates College, A. 6., 1879. He 
received the degree of A. M. from Bates College, 1883, and from the Uni- 
versity of Vermont, 1902, and the degree of LL. D. from Bates College, 1907. 
He was principal of Nichols Latin School, Lewiston, Maine, 1879-80; prin- 
cipal of Lenox High School, Massachusetts, 1880-83; principal of Lyndon 
Institute, Vermont, 1S83-96; principal of State Normal School, Johnson, 
Vermont, 1896-1900; State Superintendent of Public Instruction of Vermont 
1900-1905; and has been Commissioner of Public Schools of Rhode Island 
since 1905. He is president of the Board of Managers of Rhode Island 
State College, a Trustee and Secretary of Rhode Island College of Edu- 
cation, a Trustee of Rhode Island School of Design and of Bates College, 
besides being connected as a member or officer with various educational in- 
stitutions and societies, including the Bates Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. 
He is a past president of the American Institute of Instruction, of the 
Rhode Island Institute of Instruction, of the Vermont School Masters' 
Club and Vermont Teachers' Association, and of the Barnard Club of Rhode 
Island. He is well known in and out of Rhode Island as a writer and lec- 
turer on educational, social, ethical and fraternal subjects. His services as 
educator in four state school systems have given him a fruitful, practical 
experience, from which Rhode Island has profited in the fifteen years of his 
occupancy of the chief executive and administrative office in the public 
school service. After Henry Barnard he was the first American educator 
called from the chief educational office of one state to a similar office in another 
state, although the precedent has since been followed several times. The 
change in the title in the office makes him the first Rhode Island Com- 
missioner of Education. 



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